 North Macedonia's military backs sending MI-24 helicopters to Ukraine. The general staff of North Macedonia has backed the transfer to Ukraine of 12 MI-24 military helicopters that it purchased from Kyiv two decades ago, Macedonian Defence Minister Slavyanka Petrovska said. Petrovska said, Skopje will procure eight new Western Platform roto-craft to replace the MI-24s. He said the military equipment being supplied to Ukraine was under our plans, reaching the end of its service life. Petrovska said that the transfer of helicopters to Ukraine will not weaken Macedonia's defence capabilities as some of the helicopters have not been used for some time. In addition, most of the MI-24s are no longer on combat duty. These are Soviet-made helicopters that Ukraine sold to Macedonia 20 years ago. Some of them have been modernised with the participation of the Israeli company Elbit Systems and adapted for interaction with NATO forces. According to the Minister of Defence, the equipment is transferred at the request of the Ukrainian side. This is a skillfully used technique by the Ukrainian army. Petrovska said. In August 2022, North Macedonia gave four Su-25 attack aircraft to Ukraine.